The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Istehkaam-e-Jamhooriat rally on Sunday brought out its loyal supporters and leaders of other political parties, but the energy of the other major rally in Pakistan today, by former cricketer Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Lahore, was missing.
In terms of numbers, the MQM’s rally was a success. Tens of thousands attended, including members of the Hindu community. The organisational skills of the MQM to put together such a large-scale event at short notice were on display. The messaging was consistent, as party chief Altaf Hussain and other leaders stuck to the theme of the rally - supporting democracy and President Asif Ali Zardari, as well as criticising the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for allegedly using derogatory language to refer to the president.
However, unlike the PTI event, the rally wasn’t attended by young teenagers and adults, and fleets of land cruisers and Prados that leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) had used to travel to the rally stood as a stark contrast to the party’s ideology of working against landlords and feudal lords and representing the middle class.
The MQM’s roots lie in student activism. Party leader Hussain found his calling as an activist while at the Karachi University, and young leaders like former nazim Mustafa Kamal was surrounded by young men who wanted a photograph with him.
What does the MQM make of the PTI capitalising on a younger target audience?
MQM’s Nasreen Jalil, who has served as deputy nazim, said it was a “positive sign” that people had become more aware and were involved in the political process. “Imran Khan speaks very well,” she told The Express Tribune, “However, he has no team that can deliver. The MQM has been working for 25 years and our people have delivered in politics, including the development in Karachi or good governance.”
Jalil said that the MQM’s leadership - including its representatives in the provincial and national assemblies “rose from the middle class”. “We do not have tribal leaders or feudal lords in the party.”
According to Jalil, Altaf Hussain believes that young people - even if they do not join the MQM - should participate in politics. MPA Faisal Subzwari used his own example to illustrate his party’s strategy of ‘inducting and introducing young people into electoral politics’. “I’m a deputy parliamentary leader and 38 of our 51 members in the provincial assembly were first-timers.
“While young voters are very idealistic, the reality check when one enters politics is quite harsh.”
Referring to Imran Khan, he said: “The politics of defiance is very easy. However, working within the system to strive for the betterment of people is different.”
Subzwari explained how frustrating ‘real politics’ can be. “I introduced an anti-domestic violence bill in 2007, it got approved in 2011. “I remember how much lobbying we had to do for another bill simply because the word ‘hari’ (farm hand) was in the text. These people [referring to the landed class] are not the true representatives of people. We have a ‘feudocracy’, not a democracy.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2011.
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Despite all its ills,MQM does have people who could deliver but miunderstandings erupt when they try to act as if they are the ONLY ones who can deliver.Regarding feudalism in Pakistani politics and society, it's nothing more than a myth that MQM or ALtaf Hussain was/were the first who realized the effects of feudal culture on Pakistan. If one checks the history of political parties in Pakistan then it's not hard to find that several politicians,activists,groups etc.....pointed towards the curse of feudalism, hope someone reads about the emergence and activities of left-wing and Communist/Marxist groups in Pakistan before the formation of MQM. Mere arrogance,intolerance and bigotry on behalf of not all but still many MQM supporters is something that can't remain hidden, and they are the ones who believe that everyone outside of Karachi and Urban Sindh is an illiterate and brainless specie who loves and prefers to live under a feudal law. But that's not the case. Despite being a PTI supporter, I do acknowledge the fact that the party indeed has to do more.
@ Salman Orangiwala
You are right sir but MQM could only show it's rally power in Karachi and we know why. I am neither a supporter of PTI nor MQM. However MQM will be always a racist party who has a militant outfit as well. What happened in Karachi in last months is enough to tell how much ability MQM and other Karachi parties have to manage the city. Complete breakdown of law and order. What is the point of this street power if you can't deliver. Add to that is their collusion to PPP to stay in power.
As for PTI, they could only be judged if they get a chance. So i reserve my judgement.
@Salman Orangiwala. I just could not let you have the last word since Eid is coming around the corner and I am sure the MQM workers like you will get busy stealing animal hides. I have been living in Karachi for the last 26 years and I know this for a FACT , that this fascist party really gives power to the youth by arming them with automatic weapons. This Eid like all Eids before in Karachi just watch scores of MQM youth brandishing weapons and forcing people to surrender animal hides. How can their lawmakers deny their extortionist tactics with a straight face is a wonder.
PTI is Pakistans party and has not ethnic card to play. Salman its about time you think for Pakistan and not just F.B Area and Liaqutabad.
@Hassham Khan: Beautifully said. Thanks. We need that spirit!
@Natasha Bib and Chilli Milli
Time and again you people show your anguish against MQM ,with a brazen frown and that too from very far away ( Read :Rawalpindi ) place.
You people simply DO NOT understand and most probabaly will never , the dynamics of the politics of Karachi .
Just one successful public gathering has swoon you up on your feet , trust me , MQM has the capacity and capability of mobilizng masses far more greater in numbers in just a matter of few days .What !? Did I hear you mumbled , "fear factor "..... Oh comeon , Like i said "from very away place " We need to be mature enough to to distinguish the die hardness and fear factor .Having said that , allow me to assume , you PTIeers are, must be in a state of shock that after the so called ruling of CJ , Mumbo jumbo of Zulfiqar Mirza and the Rangers operation , how come "they " are still alive and kicking ?
Sorry to disappoint you .Even for the sake of arguement we assume that PTI gets a majority in the next election , they would have to DO what Zardari , Nawaz and Benazir HAD to do . Visit Karachi ,with a bowl for the support of MQM to form THE Govt .
Imran has a lot to answer yet , to start with how come his sons are studying and getting the best schooling system of the UK , while he is trying to fool around the "Peela school " educated youths of paksitan .
For Mr Parvez Mahmud:
"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just." - Abraham Lincoln.
It was also a challenge for Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah to create what we call our homeland!!
Cheers
@ Hassham Khan
In politics you have to work with the people you have. Its not MQMs fault the rest of Pakistan elects feudals to represent them.
If PTI were so true and pure, Imran Khan would not be talking of alliances with Nawaz
This is politics. You have to talk to even your enemy to get what you want
Although PTI has never been in power but Imran Khan has already proved himself to be an exceptional leader, administrator, and a visionary at Namal college, Shaukat Khanum, Cricket and the current state of politics.
MQM talks about curbing feudocracy but still continues to ally with PPP!! I dont understand how would they bring about a revolution with such discredited stance!! There are a few traits of MQM which I admire but in my capacity as a voter, their over all policy has not convinced me to vote for them.
5 years ago, no one could have imagined Imran to stage such a support but he did prove himself in changing the political dynamics. My family and I will vote for PTI, if not this election then maybe the next one we will bring him to power!
Long live Imran!!
Hassham Khan (Ex voter of MQM)
Seriously is there any comparison between PTI & MQM??
Well said chilli. In fact , we should learn to differentiate between political parties and 'cults'.
Both parties did well in their respective jalsa's. The Lion of Punjab can not roar for long!
Look at all the sad faces in the rally. It seems like they were brought here on gun point.
@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman: They have delivered a lot in karachi. If your from Karachi you would know that very well.
PTI dont have arm wings either and they are fighting for pakistan and other side MQM all ways says against the fuedal but what they doing now making strike for fuedals. karachi bleeding since 1980 who is respomsible for that???
We must distinguish between mafias and political parties. Some of the parties work more like mafia and underworld.
Both parties are not revolutionary. As revolutionary parties do not aim change through parliament as parliament is part of the system. Read revolutions of Cuba, China, Russia etc. and you know what revolution is.
Nobody can compare the gathering of the Karachi and Lahore as fear factor was not involved at Lahore.
@Shahryar Ahmed:
Whatever you say,whatever your motive is...still I,my family,my relatives,my friends will vote for PTI.I don't want to waste my vote on pppp,mqm etc.
Sending so called middle class educated youth into parliamanets doesnt help Pakistan, what have those people achieved what has changed in Karachi, thousands were being killed in the ninties and the same now. Same old propaganda!!!!
Time for change has come......a change that people want and deserve. A change that will make difference in quality of life of people
Look whose talking!!
How about a photo from top to show the numbers?
Ms Nasreen, Teams really cannot deliver, its the Captain who make them to deliver.